Automatic large surface cleaning machine

ABSTRACT

The apparatus consists of liquid/gas reservoirs and a movable reciprocating outlet nozzle connected to a pressure pump and connected to a vacuum unit, all of which are mounted on a small movable machine and all of which are driven by one engine of the small movable machine. The pressure pump is connected in some fashion to the drive shaft of the engine such that the power of the surface cleaning system automatically adjusts depending on machine speed. Also the nozzle systems sucks dirty liquid or dirt collected from the liquid/gas through a filter into a trash receptacle and moves the clean liquid into the mounted reservoir for use again by the pressure pump.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Present invention relates to an automatic large surface cleaning machine using pressure liquid/gas streams through moving nozzles. In particular, the automatic surface cleaning machine is based on a small movable machine, where the pump/compressor and moving nozzles are attached to the movable machine engine and can productively clean a variety of surfaces including roads, sidewalks and other large areas, removing different deposits such as dirt, chewing gum, paint, etc.

FIELD OF SEARCH

Class 15 (Brushing, Scrubbing, and General Cleaning) subclasses 56, 78, 320, 397. Class 239 (Fluid Sprinkling, Spraying, and Diffusing) subclasses 172, 255, 337, 391, 395, 670. IPC/CPC subclasses searched: E01 H (Street Cleaning; Cleaning of Permanent Ways; Cleaning Beaches; Dispersing) 1/103 ( . . . in which the loosening soiled or washing liquid is removed, e.g. by suction). E01H 1/0863 (Apparatus loosening or removing the dirt by blowing and subsequently dislodging it at least partially by suction). All classes/subclasses were searched on EAST in combination with text. The following patent databases were searched: US Patent Databases at USPTO research facility (EAST): US-PGPUB, USPAT, USOCR Foreign patent databases at USPTO research facility (EAST): FPRS, JPO, EPO, DERWENT. Non-patent data sources also searched: Google (Web), Alta Vista.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Generally, existing systems for cleaning surfaces by water pressure include three main components: an engine, a pump and nozzles with delivery systems. All existing systems for surface cleaning can be separated into three types:

-   -   1. Systems which include all components where the nozzle can be         moved only by hand. Such systems are described in U.S. Pat. Nos.         7,063,281 and 7,198,203 B2. These are the most common type of         surface cleaning systems.     -   2. Systems which include all components where multiple nozzles         rotate by an additional motor and water is delivered through a         swivel mechanism. Such systems are described in U.S. Pat. Nos.         4,219,155 and 4,793,734.     -   3. Systems as in type 2 but the nozzles rotate by a reaction         force of water stream. Such systems are described in U.S. Pat.         No. 7,308,900.

Type 1 systems do not allow high productivity because the nozzle is installed in a hand-held water gun and cleans the surface with inconsistent speed, or cleans the surface point by point and results in irregularly cleaned surfaces.

Type 2 systems allow more productivity. However, these systems have several disadvantages: a) Speed of nozzle rotation is independent of movement of the entire system, resulting in inconsistent cleaning. Usually, the surfaces have concentric lines with differing levels of cleaning; b) The swivel mechanism wears out easily, resulting in leakage; c) These systems are expensive because they require an additional motor and high maintenance.

Type 3 systems are cheaper than type 2, but rotation depends on a reaction force of the water stream pressure, leading again to inconsistencies, and the swivel mechanisms have similar problems as those with type 2 mechanisms.

Several U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,896,742 B2; 7,735,186 B1 and 8,051,529 B2 disclose combination systems including pressure pump, nozzles with delivery systems, suction systems for dirt and storage tank for liquid with dirt filtration. Also, these systems are installed on a vehicle which moves on a surface with regulated speed. Also, one patent application publication, US 2012/0222909 A1, discloses installation of a cleaning system on a small movable machine.

However, none of these cleaning systems use the vehicle's own engine to drive compressor, move nozzle system and drive suction pump where the power of each system is optimized depending on vehicle speed. Moreover, none use simultaneous delivery of pressurized liquid/gas through the nozzles with suction by delivery systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A principal diagram of the present automatic large surface cleaning machine for this surface cleaning system is shown in FIG. 1. The system for the automatic machine is based upon using a small movable machine.

A general view of the automatic large surface cleaning machine is shown in FIG. 2. The liquid/gas pressure flows from the pump and a valve into the delivery system and nozzles. Delivery system and pump are running from the small movable machine engine. The pressure liquid/gas pump and movable nozzle system are attached to the engine of the driven machine such that the speed of the movable nozzle system and power of pump depends on machine speed. The functional design of the small movable machine gives the operator total control of the drive speed, forward/off/reverse, liquid/gas pressure, and a delivery system speed, on/off for the nozzles for precise operation.

Liquid tank(s) are attached to the movable machine's back with outlet and inlet pipes. The outlet pipe connects to the pressure liquid/gas pump, which in turn connects to the nozzles. The tank(s) inlet pipe connects to the suction pump. Vacuum wet suction pumps connect to the cover of the nozzle system. Dirty liquid after surface cleaning passes through the wet suction pump and through the filter systems. It is returned to the tanks and the cleaned liquid flows back into the pressure pump(s).

The pressure liquid/gas pump and movable nozzle system are attached to the engine of the driven machine such that the speed of the movable nozzle system depends on machine speed.

Delivery system including manifolds with nozzles can automatically adjust for optimum distance between nozzles and a cleaning surface with maximum cleaning effect.

Present invention uses two delivery systems:

a) Two or more manifolds with nozzles, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, moving linearly in opposing parallel directions. These systems are also driven by the engine of the maneuverable machine through the mechanism which converts rotatable motion from the engine shaft into linear motion of the manifolds. Thus, the linear speed of the manifolds with nozzles depends on the speed of the maneuverable machine. The mechanism, that converts rotatable motion from the engine into linear motion of manifolds, is designed such that cleaning surfaces from nozzles of one manifold overlaps the cleaning surface from the adjacent manifold with nozzles.

b) The nozzles are attached to impeller blades, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, which rotate by the maneuverable machine engine. The liquid/gas is transferred through the swivel mechanism and the propeller blades to the nozzles. The impeller simultaneously creates suction of the liquid, returning it to the initial supply tank.

Tanks of liquid are attached to the back of the small movable machine. Plastic bags are inserted in the tanks and then filled with liquid. An inlet pipe of the pressure pump would suction liquid through the filters. The vacuum wet suction pumps connects with a cover of the manifold nozzle systems. Dirty liquid after being cleaned by the suction systems returns to the tanks and through the filter systems returns to the pressure pumps.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of an automatic surface cleaning machine showing relationships and functions of all components.

FIG. 2 is a schematic of assembly components based upon a small maneuverable machine.

FIG. 3 is a 3D drawing of linear motion assembly manifolds seen from the nozzles side.

FIG. 4 is a 3D drawing of linear motion assembly manifolds with nozzles seen on top of manifold housing.

FIG. 5 is a drawing of impeller pressure-suction system assembly with nozzles 3D seen from the disc side

FIG. 6 is a drawing of impeller pressure-suction system assembly with nozzles 3D views from nozzles side.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Present preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the above identified figures and described in detail below. Referring initially to FIG. 1, a diagram of the automatic surface cleaning machine included four units: 1—engine for moving and supplying energy for a pressure and suction pump and nozzles moving systems; 2—liquid pressure pump; 31'movable systems; and 4—suction wet/dry cleaning system. All four units are assembled together on a small movable machine such that the power and speed of running systems automatically adjust depending on power and machine speed.

An embodiment of the general assembly of the automatic surface cleaning machine based on a type of lawn mower 1 which runs on the dirty surface 2, illustrated in FIG. 2, comprises sheave 3 which connects with the engine shaft which runs pressure pump 4 and movable nozzle systems 5, which runs through a belt by the engine. Liquid (liquid case) from tank—storage 6 flows through pipe 7 to the pressure pump 4. Liquid, after being pressurized through the pipe 8, is delivered to the movable nozzle system 5. Movable nozzle system 5 connects to the wet/dry suction system 9. Thus, after cleaning, mix of dirt products/deposits with liquid is suctioned and returned through the pipe-filter dirt collector 10 to the tank storage 6.

FIG. 3 illustrates the manifolds 1 with nozzles 2 move linearly back and forth in opposing parallel directions as a saw mechanism in the housings 3. The housings 3 are attached to the body of movable machine by studs 4. Pressurized liquid/gas is delivered through the pipes 5 to the manifolds 1 and distributed through the nozzles 2 on the cleaning surface. The pipes 5 are made from spring material and return the manifold with nozzles to the neutral position.

FIG. 4 illustrates manifolds with nozzles and housing from housing side. The rotatable lever 6 rotates through the sheave with coupling by the machine motor shaft. The lever 6 during rotation pushes bearing 7 fixed on the manifolds thus the two manifolds 1 with nozzles 2 move linearly back and forth in opposing parallel directions as a saw mechanism so that the cleaning surface with overlap from two or many movable manifolds.

FIG. 5 are illustrates the installation of the nozzles 1 on the vanes 2 of the impeller 3, which is rotated by motor shaft of the movable machine. The nozzles 1 are built on the impeller vanes 2 as the cleaning surface should overlap from the two movable nozzles. That is, the nozzles are located on the cross of the evolvent line with the vane top surfaces.

FIG. 6 illustrates the impeller body and vanes from disc of the impeller. Pressurized liquid/gas is delivered to the nozzles through the impeller, cleaning surface and the impeller vanes simultaneously create vacuum and suck up dirty liquid/gas and return it through the filter to the tank. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An automatic surface cleaning machine comprising a small self-propelled machine; pump or compressor; manifolds with nozzles; a liquid/gas tank; movable nozzle systems; suction systems, and, liquid/gas transportation systems wherein the pump/compressor is attached to the engine of a small maneuverable machine such that the liquid/gas power system and speed of the delivery system are dependent on the speed of the self-propelled machine.
 2. An automatic surface cleaning machine according to claim 1, which has one or more movable nozzle systems supplied with liquid/gas through flexible pipes which move in opposing parallel directions in a sawing motion.
 3. An automatic surface cleaning machine according to claim 2 wherein the flexible pipes are made from spring steel and simultaneously function as springs to return the manifolds to their initial position.
 4. An automatic surface cleaning machine according to claim 1 wherein the nozzles are installed in an impeller.
 5. An automatic surface cleaning machine according to claim 4 wherein the nozzles are installed in an impeller, which impeller simultaneously has a suction function.
 6. An automatic surface cleaning machine according to claim 4 wherein the nozzles are installed in the impeller vanes with different radii from the center of the impeller.
 7. An automatic surface cleaning machine according to claim 6 wherein the nozzles are installed in the impeller vanes top surface according to the cross evolventa with the vanes. 